Trio suspected in duct-tape home invasions in custody

Police Monday night confirmed that all three suspects sought in connection with home invasions Jan. 30 and Jan. 31 — when armed burglars used duct tape to restrain their elderly victims — are in custody on felony charges.

Police Monday night confirmed that all three suspects sought in connection with home invasions Jan. 30 and Jan. 31 — when armed burglars used duct tape to restrain their elderly victims — are in custody on felony charges.

Urban, who issued a press release identifying the three, had said that police were seeking public assistance in locating Yeager and Winkler because it was believed they had fled the area.

About two hours later – at 4 p.m. – Winkler, of 132 Ninth St. NE, Strasburg, was arrested at his home by Strasburg police, who turned him over to New Philadelphia police.

New Philadelphia police later arrested Yeager, of 125 Ninth St. NE, New Philadelphia, at about 7:30 p.m. He was found as a passenger in a car stopped for a traffic violation on Route 39 near the Park-n-Ride off W. High Avenue, according to Sgt. Paul Rossi.

Winkler and Kirk each are charged with two counts of aggravated burglary. Yeager was charged with one count of aggravated burglary.

Victims of the first burglary, a 70-year-old woman and her 40-year-old son at a Fourth Street NE residence, were confronted by two masked intruders — one of whom had a gun. The victims then were forced into their car and taken to a bank to make an ATM withdrawal.

When that failed, the two were taken back to the residence where they were tied up with duct tape. The robbers then stole the woman’s 2007 Ford Taurus, bank card, cellphones, a Kindle Fire, some electronics and CDs.

Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s deputies, following a call from a concerned citizen, found the car two days later parked along Baertown Road NW, between Columbia and Strasburg.

The victim of the second home invasion, an 87-year-old woman on Beech Lane NW, also was met by two intruders with their faces covered. A gun was pointed at her head, and she also was tied up with duct tape while her home was ransacked for about an hour.